Adolescent and Young Adult Cancer Survivors: Identity Development

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The purpose of this study is to better understand how the illness has affected the identity and what needs the survivor may have. We hope that this information will help us provide better care to future adolescent and young adult cancer survivors.

The patient will be asked to come in to the Counseling Center at MSKCC (641 Lexington Avenue, 7th Floor) and participate in an individual interview at their convenience.

Behavioral: interview

The doctor and/or one of her trained research study staff will ask the patient about their experience as an adolescent/young adult cancer survivor, their health and quality of life. It should take (approximately 1-1 ½ hours)to complete. Interviews will be audiotaped and transcribed by a professional transcription service.

2 Focus Groups

The patient will be asked to come in to the Counseling Center at MSKCC (641 Lexington Avenue, 7th Floor) and participate in a focus group at their convenience.

Behavioral: Focus groups

The patient will participate with 6-8 other adolescent/young adult cancer survivors. The doctor and/or her trained research study staff will ask about their experience as an adolescent/young adult cancer survivor, their health and quality of life. It should take about one-and-a-half hour to complete. Focus groups will be audio taped and transcribed by a professional transcription service.

3 Questionnaire

The patient will be asked to participate in three 60-90 minute telephone interviews scheduled at their convenience.

Behavioral: Questionnaire

The patient will be asked to participate in three 60-90 minute telephone interviews conducted by the doctor and/or her trained research study staff scheduled at the patient's convenience, the second interview approximately 6-8 months after the first and the last interview approximately 12-16 months after the first. The questionnaire will ask about their experience as an adolescent/young adult cancer survivor, their health and quality of life.

Conduct a comprehensive qualitative assessment through individual interviews and focus groups of identity development, peer and family relationships, and psychosocial concerns among survivors diagnosed during adolescence. [ Time Frame: 3 years ]

Secondary Outcome Measures
:

Conduct a prospective longitudinal assessment of identity development and peer and family relationships among survivors diagnosed during adolescence. [ Time Frame: 3 years ]

Choosing to participate in a study is an important personal decision. Talk with your doctor and family members or friends about deciding to join a study. To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the contacts provided below. For general information, Learn About Clinical Studies.

Ages Eligible for Study:

15 Years to 25 Years (Child, Adult)

Sexes Eligible for Study:

All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers:

No

Sampling Method:

Probability Sample

Study Population

adolescent survivors from MSKCC

Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

Current age greater than and including 15 and up to and including 25 years of age at time of consent

Diagnosis of a first cancer > or = to 14 and up to and including 21 years of age

At least 6 months post-treatment according to participant's self-report.

Able to provide informed consent (or parent or legal guardian consent and participant assent for those participants under 18 years of age)

Able to speak English. This inclusion criterion is included because study assessments were designed and validated in English and many of them are not currently available in other languages. Translation of questionnaires into other languages would require reestablishing the reliability and validity of these measures. Therefore, participants must be able to communicate in English to complete the assessments.

Exclusion Criteria:

Will exclude survivors with severe cognitive impairment that precludes them from being able to give information consent and/or complete the questionnaires.